Care Your Pet

21 Dec 2010

What Is Algae?Algae is often referred to as a plant, in fact algae is a complex unicellular organism referred to as a protist in the eukatyotic kingdom. Sorry to use such long words but basically it is not a plant it does however share the same ancestors.

Algae appears in a number of different colours and forms. The most common is as a green film over the surface of the aquarium glass but it can be brown, red or blue-green and it can coat the plants,gravel rocks etc. as well as the glass.

Types include:Brown Algae - often appears in newly setup tanks and can disappear as quickly as it arrivedGreen Algae - Likely to appear in any properly running tankHard 'Green Dot' AlgaeHair Algae - Long greenish or grey strands which can be removed with a toothbrush. Algae eatnig fish also like itRed/Brush Algae - Often appears on plants and can be removed using a weak bleach solution. Can be the result of overfeeding your fishGreen Water - Also called 'Algae bloom'. It is a suspension of microscopic algae. Water changes and low light for a few days normally gets rid of itBlue-green Algae (cyanobacteria) - This is not a true algae. It appears as a slimy coating smothering plants. It can release harmul toxins. It is easily removed manually. Fish will not eat it and sometimes increased aeration helps to prevent it.

Green algae is to some extent inevitable and is not always a bad thing. Algae needs both light and nutrients to survive which is exactly what your fish and plants need so you are never going to eliminate it completely. All you can hope to do is to manage it by scraping the glass on a regular basis probably every couple of weeks. The best tiem to do the scraping is just before you use your siphonic gravel cleaner when you do a water change.

3 Ways To Control AlgaeControl the lightThere are a number of things that you can do to minimise the growth of algae due to too much light. The first thing is to avoid direct sunlight hitting the tank the second thing is to make sure that you do not to illuminate the aquarium for longer than 12 hours every day. These two things alone will help to minimise algae growth but, as I said, it cannot eliminate it.

Control nutrientsThe nutrients in question are nitrates, phosphates and silicates. Nitrates are always present in a well-run aquarium and phosphates and silicates are contained in the fish food so there is no way that these nutrients can be eliminated completely. They can be minimised by not overfeeding the fish and by frequent water changes. You can also plant the tank heavily so that the plants take up the majority of the nutrients.

Add algae eating fishThere are a number of fish that eat algae but you cannot rely on them to completely remove it, you will always have to scrape the glass. Among these vegetarian fish there are:- Common plec which likes green brown and brush algea- Siamese algae eater which likes green brown and brush algea- Chinese algea eaters/sucking Loach- Bristlenose- Peckoltia catfish- Whiptail catfish- Algea eating shrimp

"How do you stop a dog from eating poop" has been pondered worldwide by many aghast dog owners. Not all dogs will indulge in this activity, however there are still several that will. For the ones that do, however, it is a behaviour that puzzles and mystifies dog trainers and veterinarians around the globe. Take it from someone who has witnessed it first hand, this is not something you should have to see.

There are many theories as to what causes this unusual behaviour in dogs.

The carnivorous/scavenging instinctSome hypothesize that coprophagia is caused by a powerful natural instinct. When carnivores kill, they eat the carcass, which includes the digestive tract, which includes the poop. Boredom or stressA deficiency of human affection, and mental and physical stimulation, is cited by many as a cause for coprophagia. The dog will eat the poop because there is really nothing else for her to do.

Improperly housetrained dogs In an attempt to escape punishment for pooping in the house, some postulate that dogs will eat it before their owners see it.

Nursing mothers Some nursing mothers will eat their puppies' poop as a way of keeping the "den" clean, and to conceal evidence of the existence of their puppies from predators. Poop eating is quite ordinary with puppies who are seen to emulate the behavior of their mother.

The "leave it" commandThis can be helpful when you are in the yard with her, when you take her for a walk, or if she decides to poop on your new leather car seats.

Positive reinforcementIf you see your dog attempting to eat her own poop, stop her in the act, and reward her with treats and praise. It is essential to duplicate this reinforcement on a regular basis.

Bring your creative side out You can also experiment by adding natural deterrents, such as canned pumpkin or pineapple, to your dog's meals. She will likely eat the deterrents, however their presence in the poop makes it unpalatable.

Use of products If nothing seems to be working, you may wish to regard the possibility of buying certain products which, when mixed with her food, make her poop smell and taste very bad.

By : Maxie - Maxie Jewell has been around dogs her entire life. Through her extensive interactions with professional dog trainers and veterinarians, she has acquired a vast wealth of knowledge about learning how to stop dog problems. Her hope is that she can impart her wisdom and knowledge to other dog owners and dog enthusiasts around the world.

Yorkshire Terriers, or Yorkies as they are commonly called, are very small dogs that do not seem to realize that they are small. They are very brave, always up for an adventure, and they are almost always full of energy. You will be hard pressed to find a small dog that has more spunk and attitude than a Yorkie has.The average dog in this breed weighs a mere 7 pounds and is around 7 inches tall from the floor to their shoulders. They have very petite bodies, and are very susceptible to injury. This makes this dog a bad match for families with small children.The Yorkie has long, straight flowing hair in various different colors. Because of this, it is important to have them bathed, groomed, and cut more often than other breeds. If the hair becomes too long in the front, the dog will have a hard time seeing, and may begin to have eye problems due to infections caused by hair in their eyes.Yorkshire Terriers are very effective and make great companions as long as they understand, and except, that their human owner is the alpha of the pack. If they are not trained in this manner, then they will be suspicious of other people, as well as other animals, and may begin to show aggressive tendencies. It is very important, with this breed of dog, for the owner to be in charge of every situation, which will allow the dog to feel secure and part of the pack. In this way, they will not act out and they will be well behaved pets.These dogs are fairly easy to train as long as the alpha status is immediately established, but they can be very unruly and stubborn at times. To prevent this, the owner must be in control, but must also give the dog the space that it needs in order to learn and explore on their own.If the Yorkie begins to feel alone, abused, or in need of constant human attention, they can display mood swings, jumpiness, and even aggression. Once again, these types of dogs demand positive attention, but they also have to have some personal space.The Yorkie is a perfect companion for older children and adults because they are so loyal and active, but are not a good match for younger children because they are so fragile. They also require a lot of attention when it comes to cleaning and grooming them, and since they are so small, they have a hard time adapting to severe weather changes. Before you purchase a Yorkshire Terrier be sure that you have the correct temperament, and that you have the patience to deal with them. They are very demanding and needy dogs at times, and if that need is not met by their owners, they can become dogs with behavioral problems.

By : Kathleen Chester : Puppy Match 4 You offers you best Yorkshire Terrier puppies that would be a wonderful addition to your family. Visit Puppymatch4you.com for more information.